Riding the Bus with My Sister: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{short description|2005 film directed by Anjelica Huston}}

'''''Riding the Bus with My Sister''''' is a [[memoir]] by [[Rachel Simon]], published in 2002 by [[Houghton Mifflin]] about the time she spent with her sister Beth, who has a developmental disability, whose lifestyle revolves around riding buses in her home city.

{{use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}

==Plot==▼

The memoir is about Simon's relationship with her sister Beth, who has an intellectual disability and who spends her days riding the fixed route buses in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania where she lives. Beth also lives independently, has a boyfriend named Jesse, and receives supports from two caring Direct Support Professionals, Vera and Olivia. Rachel is a busy writer and professor who loves her sister, but by the time they are in their late thirties, they've grown apart. When Beth asks Rachel to ride the buses with her for a year, Rachel reluctantly agrees. The book chronicles that year, during which Rachel befriends the bus drivers, Jesse, and Olivia, and learns about such key civil rights issues as self-determination and [[People-first language]]. The story in the present alternates with the story of the sisters' tumultuous family history, which also presents the struggles and pleasures of siblings of people with disabilities.

==Film adaptation==

{{Infobox film

| name = Riding the Bus with My Sister

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| caption =

| director = [[Anjelica Huston]]

| producer = [[Sherri Saito]]

| writerbased_on = {{based = on|''Riding the Bus with My Sister'novel''' |[[Rachel Simon]]<br/>'''teleplay''' [[Joyce Eliason]]}}

| writer = [[Joyce Eliason]]

| narrator =

| starring = [[Rosie O'Donnell]]<br/>[[Andie MacDowell]]

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| budget =

| gross =

}}

'''''Riding the Bus with My Sister''''' is a 2005 [[television film]] that aired on [[CBS]] as part of the ''[[Hallmark Hall of Fame]]'' anthology series, based on the 2002 memoir of the same name by [[Rachel Simon]]. The film, like the book, is about the time Simon spent with her sister Beth, who has a developmental disability, and whose lifestyle revolves around riding buses in her home city of [[Reading, Pennsylvania]]. [[Andie MacDowell]] plays Rachel Simon, while [[Rosie O'Donnell]] plays Beth. It was directed by [[Anjelica Huston]], with a screenplay by [[Joyce Eliason]].

The''Riding filmthe wasBus directedwith byMy [[AnjelicaSister'' Huston]] andwas filmed in [[Hamilton, Ontario]], Canada.<ref>[{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGQL0KNk9d4 |title=Riding the Bus With My Sister - The Movie - Interviews] on|website=Hallmark Hall of Fame |date=May 2005 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>▼

In 2005, the book was adapted into a [[television film]] for [[CBS]] in which [[Rosie O'Donnell]] appears as Beth, a woman with an intellectual disability, who is dependent on her father. When her father dies, her sister, played by [[Andie MacDowell]], comes to stay with her. At first, they fight about Beth's rampant consumption of junk food, resulting in bringing her [[cholesterol]] levels up, but after six months Rachel realizes that Beth is content with her life.▼

▲==Plot==

▲In 2005Beth, thea bookwoman waswith adaptedan intointellectual adisability, [[televisionis film]]dependent foron [[CBS]]her infather, whichand [[Rosiespends O'Donnell]]her appearsdays asriding Beth,the afixed womanroute withbuses anin intellectualthe disability,city whoof isReading, dependentPennsylvania onwhere hershe fatherlives. When her father dies, her sister, played by [[Andie MacDowell]],Rachel comes to stay with her. At first, they fight about Beth's rampant consumption of junk food, resulting in bringing her [[cholesterol]] levels up, but after six months Rachel realizes that Beth is content with her life.

==Differences from the book==

Many aspects of the book were altered for the film. These include turning Rachel into a fashion photographer, eliminating an older sister and changing the name of the brother, and having the sisters' father die early in the story (whereas, in real life, he was still alive when the movie aired). The civil rights aspect of the story was also less explicit, the backstory was compressed, both characters were presented as more extreme than they are in the book, and several other characters were composites.

==Cast==

Simon has said of the movie: "It's a poignant, moving, and powerful film. It also portrays both characters, as well as the struggles of the special sibling relationship, in a more realistic way than we usually get to see in film, and presents bus drivers as the everyday heroes that I now know them to be. In addition, the movie highlights some of the main themes from my book: Beth's right to live her life by her own choices, the importance of public transportation for a fully independent life, the essential need for friendships in the community, and the challenges and rewards of the sibling bond."<ref>http://www.rachelsimon.com/faq.php#movie</ref>▼

{{div col|2colwidth=30em}}▼

*[[Andie MacDowell]] -as Rachel Simon▼

*[[Rosie O'Donnell]] -as Beth Simon▼

*[[Richard T. Jones]] -as Jesse▼

*[[D.W. Moffett]] -as Rick▼

*[[Boyd Banks]] -as Henry▼

*[[Tom Barnett (actor)|Tom Barnett]] -as Bobby▼

*[[Peter Cockett]] -as Sam▼

*[[Raven Dauda]] -as Shane▼

*[[Jayne Eastwood]] -as Estella▼

*[[Allegra Fulton]] -as Vera▼

*[[Shauna MacDonald (Canadian actress)|Shauna MacDonald]] -as Nona▼

*[[Roberta Maxwell]] -as Valerie▼

*[[VijayaVijay Mehta]] -as Pradlip▼

*[[Charles Officer]] -as XaxierXavier▼

*[[Simon Reynolds]] -as Morros▼

*[[Angelo Tsarouchas]] -as Mean Eugene▼

{{div col end}}▼

==Production==

▲The film was directed by [[Anjelica Huston]] and filmed in [[Hamilton, Ontario]], Canada.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGQL0KNk9d4 Riding the Bus With My Sister - The Movie - Interviews] on [[YouTube]]</ref>

In May 2004, it was announced [[Anjelica Huston]] would direct an adaptation of the book ''Riding the Bus with My Sister''.<ref name="HustonBusVar">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2004/scene/markets-festivals/huston-to-drive-bus-1117905623/|title= Huston to drive 'Bus' |date=May 26, 2004 |website=Variety|access-date=December 30, 2023}}</ref>

===Cast=Reception==

Unlike the book, the film received negative reviews. O'Donnell's performance as Beth has been criticized for being "over the top."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvgasm.com/archives/miscellaneous_tv/000759.php |website=TVgasm |title=Miscellaneous TV: Hallmark Hall of Shame |accessdate=2015-02-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208052335/http://www.tvgasm.com/archives/miscellaneous_tv/000759.php |archivedate=2008-12-08 }}</ref><ref name="Heffernan 2005">{{cite web | last=Heffernan | first=Virginia | title=A Misfit Sister, and Life Lessons She Inadvertently Imparts | website=The New York Times | date=2005-04-29 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/29/arts/television/a-misfit-sister-and-life-lessons-she-inadvertently-imparts.html | accessdate=2017-01-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05121/494216.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=TV Review: 'Riding the Bus' lurches along a well-worn route | first=Rob | last=Owen | date=1 May 2005 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070311065052/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05121/494216.stm |archive-date=March 11, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Some[[Howard Stern]], ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', and [[Opie and Anthony]] evenall statingcommented that itO'Donnell sounded like [[Pee-Weewee Herman]]."<ref>{{cite news| url=httphttps://variety.com/2005/tv/reviews/riding-the-bus-with-my-sister-1200526264/| work=Variety | title=Riding the Bus With My Sister TV Show Review | first=Brian | last=Lowry | date=28 April 2005}}</ref>▼

▲{{div col|2}}

▲*[[Andie MacDowell]] - Rachel Simon

Despite the negative reviews, ''Riding the Bus with My Sister'' was a ratings success with 15 million viewers and a 3.5/8 share.<ref name="BusRatingsVar">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2005/digital/markets-festivals/family-value-pays-off-for-fox-1117922008/|title='Family' value pays off for Fox |work=Variety |date=May 2, 2005 |last=Kissell |first=Rick |access-date=December 31, 2023}}</ref>

▲*[[Rosie O'Donnell]] - Beth Simon

▲*[[Richard T. Jones]] - Jesse

▲Simon has said of the movie: "It's a poignant, moving, and powerful film. It also portrays both characters, as well as the struggles of the special sibling relationship, in a more realistic way than we usually get to see in film, and presents bus drivers as the everyday heroes that I now know them to be. In addition, the movie highlights some of the main themes from my book: Beth's right to live her life by her own choices, the importance of public transportation for a fully independent life, the essential need for friendships in the community, and the challenges and rewards of the sibling bond."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rachelsimon.com/faq.php#movie|title = Rachel Simon Author of the Story of Beautiful Girl and Riding the Bus with My Sister |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091107181920/http://www.rachelsimon.com/faq.php#movie |archive-date=November 7, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

▲*[[D.W. Moffett]] - Rick

▲*[[Boyd Banks]] - Henry

▲*[[Tom Barnett (actor)|Tom Barnett]] - Bobby

▲*[[Peter Cockett]] - Sam

▲*[[Raven Dauda]] - Shane

▲*[[Jayne Eastwood]] - Estella

▲*[[Allegra Fulton]] - Vera

▲*[[Shauna MacDonald]] - Nona

▲*[[Roberta Maxwell]] - Valerie

▲*[[Vijaya Mehta]] - Pradlip

▲*[[Charles Officer]] - Xaxier

▲*[[Simon Reynolds]] - Morros

▲*[[Angelo Tsarouchas]] - Mean Eugene

▲{{div col end}}

===Reception=Awards==

In 2006 the film was nominated for a [[Young Artist Award]] for Best Family Television Movie or Special.<ref>{{cite web |title=27th Young Artist Awards |url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms27.htm |website=YoungArtistAwards.org |access-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704071111/http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms27.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2010}}</ref>

▲O'Donnell's performance as Beth has been criticized for being "over the top.<ref>http://www.tvgasm.com/archives/miscellaneous_tv/000759.php</ref><ref name="Heffernan 2005">{{cite web | last=Heffernan | first=Virginia | title=A Misfit Sister, and Life Lessons She Inadvertently Imparts | website=The New York Times | date=2005-04-29 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/29/arts/television/a-misfit-sister-and-life-lessons-she-inadvertently-imparts.html | accessdate=2017-01-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05121/494216.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=TV Review: 'Riding the Bus' lurches along a well-worn route | first=Rob | last=Owen | date=1 May 2005}}</ref> Some even stating that it sounded like [[Pee-Wee Herman]]."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://variety.com/2005/tv/reviews/riding-the-bus-with-my-sister-1200526264/| work=Variety | title=Riding the Bus With My Sister TV Show Review | first=Brian | last=Lowry | date=28 April 2005}}</ref>

===Awards=See also==

* [[List of Hallmark Hall of Fame episodes]]

*In 2006 it was nominated for ''Best Family Television Movie or Special'' - [[Young Artist Award]]

== References ==

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* {{IMDb title|0420128|Riding the Bus with My Sister}}

[[Category:2002 books]]▼

[[Category:2005 television films]]

[[Category:American television2005 films]]

[[Category:American films]]▼

[[Category:Films shot in Hamilton, Ontario]]

[[Category:Films directed by Anjelica Huston]]

[[Category:CBS network films]]

[[Category:Hallmark Hall of Fame episodes]]

[[Category:FilmFilms scoresscored by Stewart Copeland]]

[[Category:Films about intellectual disability]]

[[Category:Films about disability in the United States]]

[[Category:Films set in Pennsylvania]]

▲[[Category:2002Films booksabout sisters]]

▲[[Category:American2000s English-language films]]